There was once a charcoal-burner who lived worked by himself. A fuller, however, happened to come settle in the same neighbourhood; the charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: “We shall get to know one another better that way,” he said, “and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished.” The fuller thanked him, but replied, “I couldn’t think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal.”